THE NEWSMAN OF INDIA.COM| Bhubaneswar: Odisha is positioning itself as a major driver of India’s Blue Economy, with Chief Secretary Anu Garg outlining an ambitious roadmap to harness the state’s vast maritime potential for long-term economic transformation. Addressing the Global Summit on Blue Economy 2026 in Bhubaneswar, Garg emphasized that Odisha’s strong economic fundamentals, strategic coastal advantage and forward-looking policies will enable the state to emerge as a key hub for ocean-based industries.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the two-day summit held at Lok Seva Bhawan, the Chief Secretary highlighted the state government’s vision of building a Viksit Odisha by 2036, leveraging its rich marine resources and expanding maritime ecosystem. She noted that Odisha’s 575-kilometre coastline, favourable demography and robust governance framework provide a strong foundation for sustainable growth through the Blue Economy.

Garg described the Blue Economy as a critical pillar of Odisha’s development strategy, capable of unlocking new economic opportunities while ensuring environmental sustainability. She pointed out that sectors such as fisheries, maritime infrastructure, coastal tourism and marine biotechnology would play a transformative role in the state’s economic future.

A key initiative in this direction is the proposed Odisha Marine Biotechnology Research and Innovation Corridor (OMBRIC), which aims to promote research, innovation and industry collaboration in marine biotechnology. According to Garg, the corridor will not only support scientific advancement but also encourage entrepreneurship, high-value marine products and global partnerships.

The Chief Secretary also outlined Odisha’s long-term economic aspiration in alignment with national development goals. She said the state aims to contribute five per cent to India’s GDP by 2047, the centenary year of India’s independence. The Blue Economy, she stressed, would be a major contributor to achieving this milestone.

“In Odisha, we are combining our maritime strength with innovation and policy support to create a globally competitive ecosystem for ocean-based industries,” she said, highlighting the state’s integrated approach to fisheries development, coastal infrastructure expansion and sustainable marine resource management.

In her concluding remarks, Garg reiterated the vision of “Think India, Think Odisha,” presenting the state as an emerging centre for Blue Economy growth and innovation. She said Odisha’s focus on research, sustainability and international collaboration would strengthen its role in shaping the future of ocean-based industries in India.

The summit also witnessed participation from national and international experts who shared perspectives on the opportunities and challenges in the Blue Economy. Among them was M. Ravichandran, Secretary in the Ministry of Earth Sciences, who highlighted the vast untapped potential of the oceans. He noted that more than 95 per cent of the deep ocean remains unexplored globally and called for greater investment in research and innovation to harness ocean resources responsibly.

Ravichandran also underlined emerging opportunities in offshore energy and marine biotechnology while cautioning about challenges such as climate change impacts, coastal erosion and marine pollution. Addressing these issues, he said, requires stronger scientific collaboration and sustainable policy frameworks.

The summit also saw participation from Karlito Nunes, who shared insights on his country’s efforts to strengthen its marine and coastal economy. He emphasized the importance of international cooperation and partnerships in advancing Blue Economy initiatives and promoting sustainable ocean governance.

According to official sources, the summit will feature discussions across a wide range of sectors including fisheries and mariculture, marine biodiversity, climate resilience, maritime security, offshore energy, deep-sea mining and AI-enabled ocean intelligence. Researchers, students and academic institutions are also actively participating, with selected research papers set to be published in association with Taylor & Francis.

The Global Summit on Blue Economy aligns with national initiatives such as Maritime India Vision 2030 and Viksit Bharat @2047, while highlighting Odisha’s growing role as a strategic hub for sustainable ocean-based industries.

With its long coastline, strategic maritime location and strong policy push, Odisha is steadily positioning itself as a leader in India’s Blue Economy journey — a vision that, as Garg emphasised, will play a crucial role in building a prosperous and future-ready state by 2036.